Two arrested in Nevada for AV man’s murder

RENO, Nev. • A white supremacist with a criminal history and another man have been arrested in the Oct. 15 liquor store shooting death of a 44-year-old Apple Valley man, officials said Monday.

Steven Thurman, 20, and Jesse Alvin Cole, 18, both of Apple Valley, were arrested Friday night by Reno Police Department officers and detectives after San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials tracked the men to the Nevada city, sheriff's officials said.

"We have been working this case since the night of the murder," said Detective Jason Rosenbaum, of the sheriff's High Desert Regional SMASH team, which assisted Homicide Detail detectives in locating Thurman and Cole. "It feels good to be able to catch them."

Thurman, a suspected white supprmacist, and Cole were identified as suspects in the shooting of Donald Earl Johnson in surveillance footage from the Grand Liquor & Market in the 15000 block of Rancherias Road, authorities said.

Thurman has been identified as a member of a white supremacist gang, and Cole as an associate of the hate group, Rosenbaum said.

Thurman has a prior arrest for attempted murder, according to court documents, but the charges were dismissed in May. He was convicted of possession of a dangerous weapon in 2006 and disorderly conduct while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in 2007, court documents show.

No arrest record could be found for Cole as an adult.

Johnson was shot several times outside the liquor store when an argument broke out between two men, according to officials. Johnson was not involved in the confrontation, detectives said.

No motive has been released for the shooting, but officials do not believe the killing was race related.

Johnson's family, which includes four children the single-father was raising on his own, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Sheriff's investigators flew to Reno on Saturday to interview Cole and Thurman in Washoe County Jail, where they are being held on fugitive warrants, authorities said.

Thurman and Cole were arraigned on Monday in Nevada. An extradition hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Investigators said there were several witnesses to the shooting and asked them to come forward.